Category Archives: Folk Beliefs

Remedy – Russian

Nationality: Russian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Aloha, OR
Performance Date: April 24, 2007
Primary Language: Russian
Language: English

When you have a bump on your head, put a penny on it and the bump will go away.

My informant grew up with this remedy in Kazakhstan, and her father used it on her since she was a toddler.  My informant’s father learned this remedy from his own father, a Russian doctor, who used this remedy on him when he was a child.  Although she grew up with this remedy in Russia, she does not typically use it in America unless she is around her father.  She says she has not bumped her head in years and no longer has much use for this remedy.

My informant says that this remedy is mainly used by Russian parents for their children because children are more likely to bump their heads than any other age group.  Children often play outside and are not as careful as those who are older.

My informant believes that this remedy works because the penny is cold, and putting something cold on an inflammation reduces the inflammation.  She thinks this remedy is better than putting ice on a bump because the penny sticks to the bump, so you can have your hands free.

My informant says that Russians use this remedy because of its natural healing.  Russians are more likely to use a natural remedy as opposed to a medical one.  Also, this remedy is used mainly by the Russian middle- or lower-class because they do not have the financial ability to afford more expensive medical treatments.

Superstition – India

Age: 40
Occupation: Preschool Teacher
Residence: Redmond, WA
Performance Date: April 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Sourashtra, Tamil

“Bootham” pictures

My informant told me ever since she was young they would have a “bootham” picture in the front of her house. This would be located at the outside entrance of the house. In literal translation bootham means ghost. My informant said that these pictures were put up in front of their house to ward off the evil spirits that may come to haunt the house. In essence the pictures were used to scare the evil spirits away. Many of these “bootham” pictures were pictures of Raksashas. Raksashas are demons or unrighteous spirits in Hindu mythology. The picture above shows a Rakshasa as a person in a costume. My informant also said that she stopped using this superstition when she came to America when I was a little child. She said that due to cultural differences she really couldn’t put up a picture of a demon spirit in front of her house.

She stated that instead of putting up a picture of a demon so the evil spirits would be warded off, she resorted to another superstition. She put up a mirror right across from the entrance so if evil spirits do come in, then they will see themselves and be scared off.

I believe that these superstitions are very accurate to the religion of Hinduism, which I am apart of. The information my informant told me about this superstition was very fascinating and it reinforced my knowledge on such things. Growing up I would always wonder why there was a mirror in front of the house but now I know the real reason, which is to ward off the evil spirits from our house.

Superstition – India

Age: 40
Occupation: Preschool Teacher
Residence: Redmond, WA
Performance Date: April 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Sourashtra, Tamil

Cutting Nails After Dark

This superstition has been there for a long time in my family. My informant told me ever since she was a young girl, her mother used to tell her not to cut her nails after dark. She has passed on the same thing to her children. She has told me numerous times not to cut my nails and sometimes even my hair after it has gotten dark, usually 6pm. She always said that you will get bad luck if you cut your nails after dark.

She said that in the olden times when there was no electricity, it would be too dark to see your nails therefore you wouldn’t cut them. That has stayed on even now with such modern technologies such as light. It has been a passed on tradition of sorts that we do not cut our nails at night.

So basically the only reason my mother doesn’t want me to cut nails at night is because there wouldn’t be enough light, even though we have electricity. I think that this superstition is very funny and not valid at all. The only reason it was true was because back then they didn’t have lights inside of their houses. But with modern technology this is changed.

There are many different variations of this superstition. One main variation of it is, not to cut your hair after dark. The logic is the same as cutting your nails, you would cut your hair horribly wrong when there is not light. Just like the nails superstition this could be forgone in modern days, but because of tradition and heritage this is still kept as a family superstition.

Superstition/Popular Belief – India

Age: 40
Occupation: Preschool Teacher
Residence: Redmond, WA
Performance Date: March 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Sourashtra, Tamil

Driving Forward First

My informant told me about this one superstition that was very interesting. She said that whenever she would start the car she would drive forward first and then drive backwards. For example when she would back out of the garage she would drive forward just a little, and then start backing up. She has done this for many years, as long as I can remember. At first I thought it was very interesting and tedious but after interviewing her I understood why she did it.

She said that this superstition has been in her family for a while, her uncles and her dad always did this when she was young. As she started driving a car, she started doing this too because of superstition. The whole thing lies in doing everything forward first. My mom said in Hindu religion everything should be done first forward and then should be done backwards. This superstition would be a prime example.

I have seen a lot of my friend’s parents doing the same thing while I was in their cars when I was young. Unfortunately I do not hold to this superstition so therefore I don’t follow the drive forward first rule. I think that this rule is merely a superstition and cannot be let go because they have done it for a long time.

Especially in cars there are a lot of superstitions among the Indian community. Another example of this would be when my informant would touch the picture of a Hindu god she has every time she starts driving. This has to do with getting her blessings from the god before she drives so she does not get into a major accident. I sometimes do this ritual in a way because I believe in god and the power of god. This always makes me feel a little relieved and safe on the road.

Saying

Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: La Habra, CA
Performance Date: April 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Gujurati

Five Second Rule

My informant explained to me the popular saying of the five second rule. He had first heard this at the age of 10 when he was in elementary school. At lunch in the cafeteria he had accidentally dropped his sandwich and his friend shouted out five second rule. He said that meant, he had 5 seconds to pick it up and eat it before he had to throw it away because there were too many germs.

He explained to me many instances where this has happened. I have gone through the same thing many times before. As early as 3rd grade I remember people telling me about the five second rule when I had dropped food, particularly solid food, on the ground.

The five second rule has been researched and proven to be false many times in the course of history. In 2005, a high school student at an internship in University of Illinois, conducted research on this particular topic of the Five Second Rule. She tested and found that there were no bacteria in clean surfaces on the ground. But she went out to found out there were significant amounts of E. coli bacteria on dirty surfaces of the ground. She also found out that when she put food on the ground the bacteria will be transferred in less than five seconds, negating the five second rule. The student went on to win an Ig Noble Price in 2004 for Public health.

Also a popular show on the Discovery Channel called MythBusters, also conducted a test of sorts trying to prove wrong the five second rule. The results they got proved the high school students findings that bacteria and other harmful things will come onto the food if dropped, in less than 5 seconds. They also went on to say that even two seconds of exposure is enough for it to transfer.

I have heard many variations from my friends. One variation I have heard is the 2 second rule and sometimes even the three second rule. I guess it differs from where you are from. My friend who told me about the 2 second rule is from the northwest region of the United States.

Annotation:

“Episode 39: Chinese Invasion Alarm, 5 Second Rule.” MythBusters. Discovery Channel. Feb.-Mar. 2007.

“Improbable Research.” Improb. 2006. Ig Noble Prize. 6 Apr. 2007 <http://www.improb.com/ig/ig-pastwinners.html#ig2004>.